Punjab Medical Council writes to Modi to combat 'medical corruption'

Terming 'medical corruption' as the "worst" form of graft in the country, a top functionary of the Punjab Medical Council has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in a strong law with strict implementation to curb the menace.

In a hard hitting open letter to Modi, GS Grewal, President of the Punjab Medical Council, has said primarily there are three types of medical corruption - exorbitantly priced drugs, cuts and commissions to the referring doctors and referring patients for diagnostic tests and medical examinations without the actual need.

Noting that the profession of doctors "no longer" remained noble, Grewal alleged that referring patients for diagnostic tests without any need has given rise to "medical mafia" and politicians have also sided with the erring doctors due to which illegal practices are going on at the cost of the patients.

"I want to flag for your urgent attention the 'medical corruption' prevailing in the country. While any sort of corruption is disgusting and condemnable, medical corruption is the worst.

"The medical corruption is primarily of three types.

Exorbitantly priced drug, cuts and commissions to the referring doctors and referring the patients for diagnostic tests and medical examinations without the actual need," Grewal wrote in his letter to Modi.

He said there is a need to purge the healthcare system to make it easily affordable which is quite possible without harming the genuine and justified interests of the medical fraternity.

"I request you (Modi) to bring in strong law against medical corruption which is the worst form of all the corruption. Only a strong law with strict implementation can act as a strong deterrent against the medical corruption, cheating and fraud.

"Otherwise, desperate and helpless patients will continue to get exploited and fleeced and even dispossessed of their possessions, earnings and savings," he said.

In India, every year three crore people are believed to slip Below the Poverly Line after spending their savings and earning or selling off their assets for medical treatment, which may or may not cure them of their diseases and ailments.

Meghna A Singhania is the founder and Editor-in-Chief at Medical Dialogues. An Economics graduate from Delhi University and a post graduate from London School of Economics and Political Science, her key research interest lies in health economics, and policy making in health and medical sector in the country. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751